Monday, 11 November 2013

Sunday Boat Stuff

Only just got round to blogging about yesterday.

I got down to Eastney very early, before the tide covered the mud under Sprite 2. I wanted to see what had happened to the mooring block. Since the storm the other week the block had disappeared. Through binoculars all you could see was a mound of mud but no tyres. I floated over the block when there was about 6 inches to a foot of water. What I saw was interesting. The block had been pulled about 2 feet and in the process had dug itself into the mud. Behind the block was the large hole it had scoured in the mud as it dug itself in. However, it saves me the job of digging it in!

Myself and Jim spent most of the day on the boats. I got my locker lids roughly cut out - they need the edges rounding and the underside routed, but at least I have the rough shape sorted to work on.

Most of the day was spent sorting Jim's boat. We got the chain he bought last week shackled to his ground chain so he has chain all the way from ground to his samson post. A lot more secure.

I also got his outboard freed from his bracket. The bolts had seized, but with a bit of effort and some WD40 I freed the bolts off enough for him to get the engine in the cabin.

Here's me nipping "next door" to go and get the WD40:

A lot easier now I have my new oars: I can get further away faster.

So, Jim's boat is safe and secure, and I've made a small step forwards on my to-do list.I gave Jim some of my left-over plywood to strengthen his dinghy seat, the rest is going to make seats in my dinghy and possibly a transom block for an outboard on the dinghy if there's enough left.

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About Me

Hi I'm Mark, a 50-something who spends most of his spare time doing stuff with his Sea Wych 19, or helping his mate Jim with his Valiant 18 Yacht.
I blog to promote the Skint Sailor Ethos: you can run a boat cheaply if you are canny enough.
I started messing with boats as a kid on the Northern canals. Boats were the first vehicle with an engine I ever took charge of. Inland Waterways are too regulated and expensive. Now I mess about on the sea where things are a lot less restrictive.